The decline of the Local Authority Youth Service in England: Reflections of an actor in its demise

Abstract

These assertive and tentative reflections cover the period from the genuine promise of a radical 1968 to the artificial optimism of a populist, authoritarian 2019. Across four decades I sold my labour to three different Local Authority Education (LEA) departments. Most recently, retired from the fray, I’ve sought to observe and comment upon the shifting landscape of contemporary youth work. For better or worse, however flawed and forgetful my memory, I’ve been party to the ups and downs of Local Authority (LA) Youth Services in England. In this spirit I will begin the story with two snapshots from my chequered career.